In another year of living with the pandemic, Netflix’s content library has provided us with some much-needed distraction and comfort. Ahead, we’re listing the most popular series of 2021, including survival K-drama Squid Game, French mystery thriller Lupin, and more
With 2021 drawing to a close, it’s time to take a look back at and enjoy some of the greatest Netflix shows you may have missed throughout the year. From rom-coms to sci-fi series and action-packed dramas, it’s no secret that the streaming giant has been writing the playbook for global entertainment since its debut, continuously impressing viewers with an ever-growing collection of programmes.
Although the entertainment industry was still derailed by the Covid-19 pandemic this year, things are now looking brighter with producers and actors returning to the production sites and working on new projects—and this year was packed with excellent Netflix releases.
Not sure which ones are most worth your time? Read on to see our roundup of the biggest Netflix shows of 2021. From survival K-drama Squid Game to French mystery thriller Lupin, these are the best series you need to watch before enjoying all the great shows coming in 2022.
Don't miss: The 10 Most-Watched Netflix Original Movies of 2021 So Far
1. Squid Game
If you haven’t already watched Squid Game, it’s probably the show for you to end the year with. Produced by the celebrated director Hwang Dong-hyuk, the survival K-drama has taken the world by storm thanks to its engaging storyline and star-studded cast.
The fast-paced drama, which follows a group of debt-riddled contestants competing in deadly children’s games for a cash prize, has achieved cult status as the most-watched series in Netflix’s history with 142 million households worldwide watching the show in its first four weeks. Squid Game is also the platform’s first-ever Korean series to reach the top spot in the US.
The show’s popularity has catapulted Jung Ho-yeon, the lead actress to a new level of fame and success as well, who’s now the most followed Korean actress on Instagram and the global ambassador for Louis Vuitton.
Meanwhile, director Hwang Dong-hyuk has confirmed that season two of Squid Game is already in the works.
Watch Squid Game on Netflix here
Read more: Netflix's ‘Squid Game’ Cast and Director Talk About Bringing the Korean Survival Show to Life